Inseam-trimming machine



F. A. REARDON.

INSEANI TRIMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATIQN FILED MvAYl, 191s.

I I lnx: v I

Patented 'Nov- 2, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' mm1@ l l IIIIIIII TTOR/VEY F. A. REAHDON.

INSEAMGTRIMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 191s.

1,357,59 1, Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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INSEAM-TRIMMING TEACHINE.

Application filed May l, 1918.

To all w hom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, Finn) A. RniinnoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at l-laverhill, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented 'certain new and useful Improvements in Inseam-Trimming` Machines, of which the following is a sjjiecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in inseam trimming machines, and particularly to machinesofthe type employing an endless band knife for trimming the inseams of welt shoes.

The invention is designed primarily to provide a practical machine of this character, by means of which the edge of the welt, and that portion of the upper, projecting` beyond the stitching, may be quickly and uniformly trimmed as close to the stitching as' desired; and whereby cutting into the stitching or otherwise mutilatingA parts of the shoe is eliminated. Y

lilith these and. other objects in view, the invention consists in theV provision of im proved adjustable guideV means, which, together with a rotary feed mechanism, serves to present the work in` proper position for engagement by a cutting element of the band knife type. Means under control of vthe operator is also provided for sharpening the cutting` element and for maintaining the cutting edge thereof in proper relation to the guiding means as suchy edge becomes worn in use,adjustable means for keeping the endless band knife under proper tensionl is also supplied.

A further desirable feature of the invention resides in the employment of a casing or hollow head` member' in 4which the main operative elements of the machine are inclosed, the cutting element having only so much thereof exposed as is necessary to oontact with the work 1n performing the cutting operation, thus avoiding danger or injury to the operator while at the same timeV is desired are fully described in the follow-y ing specification, illustrated in the accom panying drawings, and `particularly pointed out m the appended claims.

Specification of Letters Patent.

`iliary knife-adjusting `mechanism Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

serial nu. sneer.l

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is aside elevation, parts being broken away and shown in section,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 'LU-fw of Fig. 1,

llig. 3 is a transverse sectionon the line y of Fie'. 1,

Fig. d is a transverse section on the line aou-.fo of Fig. 1, Y

5 is a detail top plan of the knife guide and feed wheel,

tig. 6 is a detail, fragmentary section illustrating the position of the inseam and weltduring the trimming operation, and

Figs. 7 and S are detail viewsof an auxwhich may be employed if desired.

Referring to the drawings, in which like characters of reference designate corresponding' parts in each of the several views; the numeral 10` designates a casing, bolted or otherwise secured as at 11 to a hollow standard or column 12. The casing 10 at its lower and forward end is open as at l-,for a purpose presently apparent, and a slot 1d is provided adjacent its rear and upper portion. @ne siderof the casing 10 is also openl as shown at 15, to provide for assemblingV ,the mechanism within thej saine, and a cover place" plate 16 is provided and secured in by screws 1T.

Journaled in the casing adjacent the rear thereof is a drivefshaft 1S carrying a drive pulley 19. Mounted to rock upon the drive shaft 1S, and within the casing, is a bracket 20 the forwardend of which projects downwardly and forwardly into the opening 13. An extension 21 projects rearwardly from the bracket 20, said extension having connected' thereto one end of a coil spring 22, the other end of which is iiied to the casing as at 23. i

Journaled in the bracket20 is a driven shaft 241e, and slidably keyed thereon is a worm 25 which meshes with a worm' wheel 26, fast upon the drive shaft 18. A coil spring 2T and collar 28 serve to normally hold the shaft in its forward position iny the bracket 20, the rear end of said shaft 2st projecting through slot 14, and engaging an adjusting `slide 29 mounted upon the casing 10. A beveled feed wheel 30 is fast upon the forward end of the shaft 2d, and is adapted to cooperate with a horizontally extending portion of a bracket member 31 to support and grip the welt of the-shoe, causing the shoe to be fed through the machine as wheel 30 is rotated. The bracket member 31 is bolted at its lower end to the casing 10, and is provided with a forwardly and upwardly bent portion 32 terminating in a horizontal portion 33. A slot 34 is provided in the bracket 31 through which the shaft 24 projects, and at its forward end said bracket 31 is formed to provide a knifeguiding 'linger 35 having formed thereon a flange 35. One end of a pull chain 36, is connected to the bracket at 37 and extends through the hollow column 12 to any suitable operating lever, not shown.

The cutting element comprises a band knife 38, driven by a flanged wheel 39, whose peripheral'surface is somewhat wider than the knife blade and which is fast upon the drive shaft 18. At the forward end of the machine the band knife is guided by passing over idlers 40 and 41, of substantially the same width as wheel 39, and is held in its proper position at the point of the cutting operation by the beforementioned flanged guide finger 35. The idler 40 is mounted in a vertically adjustable frame 42 movable in suitable guide grooves 43 in the casing 10. Adjustment of the idler 40 is effected through the medium of nuts 44, 45 having screw threaded engagement with a rod 46 projecting upwardly from frame 42 through asuitable opening in casing 10. The purpose of this adjustment is to properly tension the band knife 38.

Adjacent the idler 41, and mounted upon the same stud 47, is an adjustable cutter gage "48 (Fig. 4), which comprises a gageholding arm 49 rotatably adjustable about the stud 47 and securely held in position by a nut 50. A vertically adjustable gage foot 51 is clamped in the holder 49 by means of a screw 52. The lower portion of the vertically adjustable gage foot 51 engages Vthe insole adjacent the inseam and serves to space said insole from the band knife cutting element during its passage through the machine to gage the depth of the cutting operation.

Means for sharpening the edge of the band knife 38 at the will of the operator are provided consisting of the following mechanism. An abrasive wheel 53 is mounted upon a shaft 54 which shaft is inclined vertically at the required angle to cause said wheel to produce a bevel edge upon the horizontally disposed knife blade. A spool 55 is fast upon the shaft 54, and is driven by a belt 56 from a drive pulley 57 fast upon shaft 18. Interposed between the spool 55 and a boss upon Y the casing 10 is a coil spring 58 which serves normally to disengage the abrasive Vwheel from the band knife 38. The lower end of the shaft 54 projects through the casing 10 and is provided with a pull chain 59 operated in any suitable manner whereby said wheel 53 may be depressed into contact with blade 38.

As the edge of knife-blade 38 is worn away, said knife is pulled forward by means of a flanged wheel 6() mounted to rotate freely upon a shaft 61 and n contact with which said knife travels. At its inner end the shaft 61 is journaled in a bracket 62, its outer end having screw threaded engagement with an opening in the casing 10 and being provided with a hand wheel 64. Between the bracket 62 and roll 60, shaft 61 is provided with a collar 65, fast thereon, and adjacent the hand wheel 64 said shaft is provided with a lock nut 63 to lock the same in any adjusted position.

As an additional means for adjusting the knife blade the device illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 may be employed, wherein an angular lever arm 66 is shown pivotally mounted upon the under side of the bracket 31, upon a stud 67. `At its forward end arm 66 is provided with a roller 68 designed to bear against the rear edge of the band knife 38. The arm 66 and roller 68 are adapted to be swung upon the pivot stud 67 to take up the wear of the knife 38 by means of a thumb nut 69 upon the threaded end of an eye-bolt 70 which passes through an opening in the rear end of the arm 66'and is suitably secured to the bracket 31 by a screw stud 71.

In the practical operation of the invention the shoe is fed through the machine in substantially the position illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. By means of the pull chain 36, bracket 2O may be swung upon the shaft 18 against the action of the coil spring 22, and the beveled feed wheel 30 upon the shaft 24 may be swung downwardly and away from the bracket 31. The welt of the shoe can then be inserted beneath the horizontal portion 33 of bracket 31 and upon releasing the pull chain 36, coil spring 22 will return the before mentioned parts to their original positions firmly gripping the welt between members 31 and 30. Upon. completing the trimming operation, the pull chain 36 may again be operated and the welt released. The pressure of the feed wheel against the welt may be regulated through the medium of adjustable slide 29 which limits the return movement of the wheel toward the bracket 31 by engagement with the upper end of the shaft 24. Axial adjustment of the shaft 24 withinthe bracket may be secured by virtue of the coil spring 27 andcollar 28.

The surface of the insole is engaged by the gage foot 5l at a point adjacent the inseam, and the welt supported between the horizontal portion 33 of the bracket 31, and the beveled feed wheel 30. The gage foot is capable of various adjustments both angularly about the stud 47 and vertically by means of screw 52, for the purpose of nclining the shoe from the point Where the Welt is supported by the feed Wheel 30 and bracket 31, toward and from the band knife 38. In this manner any desired amount ofmaterial maybe .trimmed from-the inseam and as close to the stitching as is desired.

As the feed Wheel 80 is.` revolved by the shaft 24: through themedium of thefworm 25 and#` Worm Wheel 26, the shoe is fed against the band knife 38. The band knife 3S is driven in a manner previously described; and owing to the curved contour of the inseam, and the angle at which the shoe is fed through the machine an oblique drawcutting action is produced.

By means of the hand Wheel 64 and the associated parts previously described, the baud knife 38 may be readily adjusted so that the cutting operation always takes place close to the point of support, thereby assuring accuracy of the cutting operation and uniform depth of out.

lVhile I have herein shown and described a practical and preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that such changes of structural detail and modifications of parts may be made as fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Claimsl. In an inseam trimming machine, in combination, a hollow casing forming a head and provided with an opening in its lower portion, a band knife guided for movement Within said casing and having a portion of its cutting edge exposed in said opening, means for driving said knife, and a Work support adjacent said opening and arranged to assist the presentation of an inverted shoe in position to be operated on by said knife. Y

2. In a machine for trimming inseams of shoes, in combination, a hollow casing having` an opening therein, an endless band knife within said casing, means Within said casing for guiding said knife, a portion of` the cutting edge of the knife being exposed at said opening, Work guiding and positioning means adjacent said opening constructed and arranged to assist the presentation of a shoe in position to allow the knife to trim the inseam thereof, and means Within said casing for driving and sharpening said knife.

3. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a driven shaft, a drive Wheel fast thereon, a plurality of guide rolls in the plane of said drive Wheel, but spaced therefrom, an endless band-knife engaging said drive Wheel and said guide rolls, means for adjustably positioning one of said guide rolls to thereby tension said knife and means to assist the presentation of a shoe to said knife in position to trim the inseam thereby.

t. In an inseam trimming machine, in combination, a band-knife, a relatively fixed Work support engageable with one surface of the Welt, a rotatable feed Wheel engaging the opposite surface of the Welt, a gage-*foot constructed and arranged to engage the surface of the insole closely adjacent vthe inseam, and means permitting vertical and angular adjustment ofsaid gage-foot.

aIn a Work-guiding cutter gage for use in inseamVtri-mming machine, in combination, a pivotally supported gage holding arm, means for securing said arm in angularly adjusted position, and a Work contacting gage-foot comprising a member slidable in said arm, and means for clamping said member in adjusted position.

6. In an inseam trimming machine having an endless band-knife, a relatively stationary Worksupport adjacent the cutting edge of said knife, a pivotally supported bracket member, a shaft rotatable in said member, means permitting adjustment of said shaft in an axial direction, means for driving said shaft, and a feed Wheel fast upon said shaft and cooperating With said Work support to feed the Work against the cutting edge of the knife.

7. In an inseam trimming machine, in combination, a cutting element, a Work support for engaging the unfinished surface of the Welt, a feed Wheel cooperating With said support and positioned to lie Within the crease of the shoe to engage the opposite side of the Welt, means for constantly rotating said feed wheel, means normally tending to'move said feed Wheel toward said Work support, and means under control of the operator to separate said Wheel and Work support to permit introduction of the Welt therebetween.

8. In an inseam trimming machine, in combination, a band-knife, a Work support for engaging the unfinished surface of the Welt, a pivotally mounted bracket, a shaft .rotatable therein, having a feed Wheel fast thereto and arranged to lie within the crease of the shoe and engage the opposite side of the Welt, means normally tending to 'swing saidbracket to move said feed Wheel into welt-gripping relation with respect to said Work support, and adjustable means engageable with the opposite end of said shaft to limit such movement.

9. In an inseam trimming machine employing an endless band-knife, in combination, a Work support and means for adjusting the cutting edge of the knife With respect thereto comprising a iianged roll having the flange thereof engageable With the rear edge of the knife blade, and manually operable means for axially adjusting said roll. A

10. In a machine of the cla-ss described, in rOmbinatiOn, an endless band-knife having the active portion of its blade located in a horizontal plane, a Work support, a

knife guide adjacent said support, and over which said knife passes7'a1id an adjustable guide roll at the rear of said guide, enga'eable With the rear edge of the knife blade for adjusting the position `of the Cutting edge ofthe latter.

1l. In an inseam trimming machine, in combination,V an'endlessband-knife, a Work support, and a knife-positioning devoe Carried by said Worksupport, comprising a pivotally mounted lever arm having a knifeengaging roll near one extremity thereof, and manually operable 'adjusting means C0- operating with the opposite extremity of said lever.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FRED A. REARDON. 

